Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that Russia and the United States agree that Ukraine's accession to NATO cannot be discussed as part of the conflict settlement. He told journalists this on March 13, 2025, after a telephone conversation with US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. According to Ushakov, Moscow conveyed a clear position to the American side: any agreements must take into account Russia's interests and ensure long-term peace, and not serve as a temporary pause for the regrouping of Ukrainian forces.

Ushakov stressed that Russia rejects initiatives that merely imitate peaceful steps without solving the underlying problems. He called the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the US a respite for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which does not meet the goals of a sustainable settlement.

"We don't need temporary measures, we are aiming for a solution that eliminates the causes of the crisis," — the presidential aide noted, expressing hope that Washington will take Russian demands into account.

These include excluding NATO from Ukraine's prospects, as well as security guarantees that take into account Moscow's control over the territories annexed in 2022.

The statement was made on the eve of a closed meeting between Vladimir Putin and Trump's special envoy Steven Witkoff, scheduled for the evening of March 13. According to Reuters, the talks in Jeddah on March 11, where the US proposed a temporary ceasefire, became the starting point for dialogue with Russia. However, Moscow's position remains tough: Putin previously noted that a ceasefire without verification and control on the 2000-kilometer line of contact makes no sense. Successes in the Kursk region, where the Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Sudzha, only strengthen the Kremlin's confidence.

Against this backdrop, the American side is looking for a compromise. According to Bloomberg, Trump is considering the option of refusing Ukraine's membership in NATO in exchange for freezing the conflict, which coincides with Ushakov's thesis. Vice President James Vance previously spoke about Kyiv's neutrality as a possible condition for the deal. Meanwhile, Kyiv insists on maintaining the course towards the alliance, which complicates the negotiations.